Green energy company in Illinois proposing solar, wind energy projects in Calhoun County that could bring 500 jobs to Albion

An Illinois-based green energy company has proposed solar and wind energy projects in Calhoun County that could create as many as 500 jobs in Albion and generate enough electricity to power roughly 30,000 homes.

New Generation Power is planning projects to create 100 megawatts of solar renewable energy and 100 MW of wind renewable energy in response to a request for proposals from DTE Energy for renewal energy undertakings that are estimated to cost between $650 million and $700 million.

Patriot Solar Group LLC, 1007 Industrial Ave., Albion, would make the mounts that hold the solar panels, and many temporary construction and installation jobs would also be created as early as this fall.

A press release from New Generation said it is also possible Starr Commonwealth, a nonprofit residential youth treatment center in Sheridan Township, could sell or lease some of its 2,500 acres of farmland to the project in exchange for a cut of the profits and an opportunity for its youth to learn about renewable energies.

The press release said wind turbines and solar panels on the property could generate enough electricity to power more than 28,500 homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a rate of 283,000 tons annually, equivalent to the emissions from more than 47,000 cars.

“I can’t tell you what it looks like or give you too much detail. We’re still in the really early stages of the discussion about the sale or lease of Starr property,” said Dana Jacob, communications director for Starr Commonwealth. “Right now we’re just most excited about the potential for creating new jobs and benefiting businesses in the area.”

Should the eight-group team led by New Generation win the full 200 MW contract from DTE, it would become the largest combined wind and solar farm in the United States, Patriot Solar Group President Jeff Mathie said.

“I am extremely proud to be a vital member of this outstanding team that New Generation has assembled. This project would display the urgency with bringing new and innovated jobs to Michigan,” he said. “Being that Patriot’s manufacturing facility is located here in Albion, this gives our team the advantage of low shipping costs and higher Michigan content of locally manufactured goods than any other company.”

Peggy Sindt, president of the Albion Economic Development Corp., said Patriot told her about the project and asked her to sit in on several phone calls to learn more about it and to facilitate appropriate relationships.

She said the EDC, along with Sheridan Township officials, have been talking with property owners such as Starr Commonwealth to help secure land for a project that would inevitably help the local economy.

“Obviously, renewable energy is the way we’re going to have to go, and we want to be a part of that,” she said. “The state has been emphasizing that as one of their key target areas the past few years, too, and I believe that will continue with the new administration. Michigan is surprisingly a good place for wind and solar, so why not?”